WINN:
Rev. James Wright Simons
March 22, 1925 – June 22, 2020
Service: Saturday, June 27 at 10 am at Hebron Baptist Church in Sikes

NATCHITOCHES:
Rosa L. Baker
June 20, 2020
Arrangements TBA

Dorothy White Lindsey
February 16, 1926 to June 23, 2020
Service: will be held at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home on Saturday June 27, 2020.
Visitation: 1:00 PM with services beginning at 2:00 PM. Reverend Tommy Rush will officiate. A graveside service will follow at Liberty Baptist Cemetery in Martin, Louisiana.

Louisiana Office of Public Health will be conducting mobile COVID-19 testing in Winnfield on Thursday, June 25, 2020 at Winnfield Primary School located at 401 South St. John St from 8 AM – 11 AM.

The vans will be manned by members of the Louisiana National Guard who will be performing registration, testing and coordination at all sites. They are working in collaboration with local Offices of Emergency Preparedness and the Office of Public Health.

Interested individuals must be 18 years of age or older. You do not need to have any COVID symptoms. Those with symptoms, contacts with known cases and high risk groups are all encouraged to be tested. High risk groups include those over 65, diabetics, those with hypertension, cancers, COPD, pregnant, immunocompromised or those living with anyone with
these conditions.

Leave your pets at home. Children will not be tested.

Present yourself to the testing site with a photo ID (for age and address verification only). You will not be turned away if you cannot present an ID.

No payment is required.

Positive results will be called to the client and all results (negative and positive) will be mailed to the client’s home address. Results can be shared with the client’s physician and employer as needed.

95% of cases are tied to community spread

The Louisiana Department of Health reports 1,356 COVID-19 cases reported to the state since yesterday, bringing the total to 51,595 cases. Louisiana had the third largest single-week increase in cases last week, beaten only by the first two weeks of April during the upswing.

The vast majority (95%) of today’s increase in case growth is tied to community spread rather than congregate settings like nursing homes.

In terms of timeline, the specimen collection date of 97% of these cases ranges from June 15 to June 23, i.e., today’s big increase is not tied to a backlog.

The percent positivity of test results reported to the state is 7.6%; the federal goal is to keep this figure below 10%.

Unfortunately, LDH also reports an additional 17 COVID-19 deaths, bringing the state’s total to 3,021 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

“We are quite concerned by today’s COVID-19 numbers and the overall direction we are moving in,” said Dr. Alex Billioux, Assistant Secretary of the Office of Public Health. “What we are seeing appears to be connected to increased movement, a lot of which is probably related to further reopening of the economy and at least some individuals not adhering to recommended precautions. We are seeing significant COVID-19 spread related to people congregating in groups with little to no social distancing or masking. The largest increase in cases is among young adults.”

“We know many Louisianans are doing the right thing – and we thank them for it. As the Governor said yesterday, this is a deadly, highly contagious virus. It does not take many of us slipping up to spread quickly,” said Dr. Courtney Phillips, Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health.

“Just because we are in Phase 2 does not mean there is no risk involved when we go out in public.

As more businesses open and more people leave their homes, it is more important now than ever to protect ourselves and others by masking up and staying 6 feet apart,” said Kimberly Robinson, Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Revenue. “If you are walking into a business and you see others who are not wearing masks, you should walk right back out. From the person who collects the state’s money, I’m telling you to let your wallet talk.”

Employees are required to wear masks to protect patrons. LDH recommends against going to establishments where staff are not masking and advises patrons to wear masks to protect staff.

As COVID-19 cases increase, Louisiana will stay in Phase Two.
Monday, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced that Louisiana will stay in Phase Two of reopening, as the number of COVID-19 cases and related hospitalizations have started to rise in several regions across the state. The Governor will extend his Phase Two order for another 28 days, keeping in place occupancy limits and other restrictions.

As of Monday (June 22), Louisiana ranks seventh out of 23 states across the country experiencing an increase in COVID-19 positive cases. Those include the neighboring states of Texas, Arkansas, Alabama, Florida and Georgia.

“Louisiana reached two sad milestones today as we surpassed 3,000 deaths and 50,000 positive tests in our state. Each of these Louisianans is someone’s child, sibling, parent or friend, and we mourn every one of these losses,” Gov. Edwards said. “It is clear that COVID is alive and well in Louisiana, and as we see more people testing positive and admitted to hospitals, we simply are not ready to move to the next phase, and ease restrictions further as businesses open widely. Many of you are doing the right thing and I thank you for it. It’s incredibly disappointing to hear that there are still some people who refuse to wear masks in public, which puts all of us at greater risk of becoming sick. I implore Louisianans to be good neighbors, to stay at home when they are experiencing symptoms, to avoid crowds, physically distance, and to wear a mask when not around their immediate household whether inside or outside. These are simple things we can do to protect ourselves and each other.”

“While we know that increasing testing means that we will see more positive cases, we are still troubled by the rising case counts across the state, especially since around 90 percent of these new cases are coming from the community and not from congregate settings like nursing homes,” Gov. Edwards said. “It is up to all of us to check our own behaviors and to take responsibility for slowing the spread of COVID. We do not want to have to go back to a time of increased restrictions where fewer businesses could operate. It is my hope that all of us – from government officials to business owners to students – will do the right thing.”

Louisianans should wear face masks whenever they are in public, practice social distancing, wash their hands frequently and avoid going out in public when they are experiencing any symptoms.

By Kevin Daugherty

I’ve touched on the benefits of prescribed burning in other Land Talk articles before but I wanted to dig a little deeper into this neglected forest management tool. I realize that “fire” is a four-letter word that means “danger” to many folks. That’s understandable, since tragic wildfires consume thousands of acres each year, destroying personal property and taking human lives along the way. Fire in the woods, however, isn’t always bad. When used correctly, it’s one of the most effective and cost-efficient tools available for forestry and wildlife habitat management.

It’s important to note the difference between wildfire and prescribed fire. A wildfire is unplanned and uncontrolled. It is caused by lightning, arson, or negligence. A prescribed fire is a tool used by natural resource managers to accomplish specific goals. It is both planned and controlled. In fact, it is oftentimes referred to as a “controlled burn.”

Hazardous Fuel Reduction
Over time, dead pine straw, leaves, and bush accumulate in the forest understory and on the ground. In fire terms, we call this “fuel” because it fuels the fire and allows it to advance and spread. Large accumulations of fuel create volatile situations that lead to intense and dangerous wildfires. All of the catastrophic fires out west occur in areas with a buildup of dangerously high fuel loads. Someone here in Louisiana might think that, because those fires occur in extreme hills and mountains, we’re not susceptible to them here. Topography does play a major role in the spread of those fires and the difficulty in putting them out. However, the ontiguous acreages of pine plantation here in the South create an environment for large fires. In fact, we’ve had some wildfires here in Louisiana that consumed several hundred acres.

In addition to periodically thinning pine plantations, prescribed burning reduces fuel loads and greatly reduces the risk of subsequent fires, planned or unplanned, getting intense enough to pose a risk to personal property and human safety. Fire will have a tendency to gently crawl through the understory, rather than climbing and spreading through the canopy.

Timber Growth
As a prescribed fire consumes understory plants, it releases the nutrients in those plants back into the soil. In a sense, it fertilizes the trees.

Insect & Disease Control
With the available incentive programs today, more and more landowners are giving longleaf pine more consideration as an alternative to loblolly. Because longleaf seedlings initially grow slowly and their needles may be at ground level for several years, they are very susceptible to brown spot needle blight. Prescribed fire is a very effective control measure for young
longleaf pines.

Insect control is another important use for fire. What many may not realize is that periodic burning is shown to drastically reduce tick populations. With Lyme disease being a real concern these days, prescribed fire offers a natural way to control ticks that carry the disease.

Native Vegetation Improvement for Wildlife
Aldo Leopold, considered as the “father of wildlife management”, once said the three tools for wildlife management are the ax, the plow, and the match. What he meant was that wildlife thrives on disturbance, including that caused by fire. Grasses, forbs, and shrubs experience a flush of new growth following a fire. This new growth is more palatable and nutritious to browsing animals than the woody, mature vegetation occupying the site before the burn. Grazing animals, such as cattle, benefit from this new growth as well. Many beneficial insects that birds consume are more abundant and readily available after a fire.

Timber Harvesting & Management
Controlling underbrush in a timber stand makes timber cruising and other management activities more efficient and effective.

Curb Appeal
When many think of fire in the forest, the first image that pops in their mind is black and ugly. That’s a reality on sites where a wildfire has ravaged the landscape. However, a controlled burning program can improve the appearance and aesthetic value of an area. Repeated prescribed fires improve the visibility in a timber stand by creating a more open understory.
Fire tends to promote flowering plants and improve the scenery.

This “curb appeal” has three distinct advantages. It sends a message to potential trespassers that the tract is being actively managed and not forgotten. It can make the tract more appealing to buyers, should you consider selling the land. The third advantage, believe it or not, is that it makes it more attractive to timber buyers. Allow me to explain that. Here in
central Louisiana, we have a buyer’s market. Timber buyers have so many sales to consider that they can pick and choose which are attractive and convenient. Tracts sometimes get “culled” because the understory is so thick they can’t move through it to get an accurate estimation of the timber volume and value. It happens!

Prescribed burning is an extremely effective management practice for landowners and managers, yet it’s rarely used on private land these days. Dollar for dollar, it’s the most effective tool we have. However, due to the risks associated with fire, burns should only be conducted by experienced persons under ideal conditions. It takes planning and serious consideration to objectives, weather, location, and liability. Forestry consultants, the folks at the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and others certified in prescribed burning can offer much- needed guidance and assistance.

Kevin Daugherty is a forestry and wildlife consultant, real estate agent, and the managing member of ForestLand Associates, LLC. He’s a member of the Association of Consulting Foresters, Louisiana Forestry Association, Society of American Foresters, and is a Land Certification Inspector for the Quality Deer Management Association. He and his wife live in rural Winn Parish. For questions about this article Kevin can be reached at (318) 312-1240 or kevin@forestland.com 

By Brad Dison

In the 1930s, the small village of Saline, Louisiana, had a population numbering around 600 people, mostly farmers and sawmill workers. Its main claim to fame was its watermelons. The sandy soil provided the best environment for growing watermelons. The Saline Truck Growers Association began holding a celebration in the village each July to coincide with the watermelon harvest. People from all over the region converged at Saline to join in the festivities. Some reports estimated 8,000 people attended Saline’s second Watermelon Festival. For a small village of only 600 people to have an influx of several thousand people must have been a sight to see.

In 1932, Saline’s mayor and vice president of the Saline Truck Growers Association H.E. Sudduth shipped the two largest melons of the season by rail to then presidential nominee Franklin Delano Roosevelt and vice-presidential nominee John Garner. The melons weighed in at 110 pounds and 90 pounds respectively. Local farmer Webby Driggers grew the prized 110-pound melon. A few weeks later, Mayor Sudduth received a letter which stated:

“I have been a long time in writing to thank you for the most delicious watermelon which you sent me some time ago. Will you please extend to the association my appreciation of their sending me this extraordinary fruit? We have all enjoyed it, and are regretful that it is gone. Please also thank Mr. Driggers, and extend to him my congratulations. Very sincerely yours, Franklin D. Roosevelt.”

All good things must come to an end. In July, 1933, Saline had a major incident which most people, even those who have lived in and around the small village all of their lives, have forgotten. Those who have not forgotten the event rarely speak of it. People arrived for the annual festival on foot, by wagon, by automobile, and by train. During the celebration, several conspirators pulled knifes at a predetermined time and slashed over 500 unsuspecting victims. Rather than running away, the crowd gathered closer. The conspirators slashed into the bodies of their victims and removed their insides. Let me remind you that this story is true and apologize for its gory nature. The wild crowd reached for the random bits and pieces of the poor victim’s insides and shoved whatever they could grab into their mouths. Men, women, and boys and girls of all ages ate the pieces of raw red meat, the heart being the most sought after.

Sheriff Henderson Jordan, mostly remembered as a member of the posse which two years later ended the crime spree of Bonnie and Clyde, compared the slashing affray to the murders credited to England’s Jack the Ripper. One eye witness told the sheriff, “It was just slash, slash, slash. There weren’t many out of the 500 that weren’t hurt.” By the next morning, no evidence of the murders could be found. The conspirators disposed of the what remained of the victims’ bodies in an undisclosed location. Sheriff Jordan and his deputies spoke with several eye witnesses and questioned the conspirators but made no arrests.

Although watermelons have remained a staple crop from the area around the small village of Saline, the 1933 watermelon festival was the last of its kind held for fifty years. Five decades later, after many of the citizens who were present at the slashing had died, citizens of Saline revived the watermelon festival with moderate success. Without most of them knowing it, festival goers celebrate each year the slashing that occurred in the small village on that hot July day in 1933. If you visit the village during the festival, you will see all sorts of depictions of the slashing victims including signs, t-shirts, face paintings, and other paraphernalia. The slashing victims were watermelons.

Sources:
The Shreveport Journal, July 29, 1932, p.14.
The Shreveport Times, July 29, 1932, p.2.
The Shreveport Journal, August 19, 1932, p.3.
The Shreveport Times, July 4, 1933, p.4.

PHOTO: 1933 Saline Watermelon Festival

By Royal Alexander

While this is a difficult and chaotic time in our nation’s history, we should not lose hope because a storm is coming, and it will be brought about by millions of humble, faithful Americans.

We are not allowed to feel sickened and repulsed at the death of George Floyd—if we don’t also declare that America is hopelessly racist and broken with no redeeming value. While we are expected to, and do, acknowledge America’s racial flaws and racial history—we’re not allowed to also acknowledge that America has made enormous gains in racial equality over the last decades. While we are strongly opposed to excessive use of force by police—we are not allowed to also point out that the large majority of law enforcement officers are good, hard-working people who simply want to live through the end of their shift; The same officers without whom we would truly live in lawlessness—with minority and less affluent neighborhoods suffering most from this lawlessness. We are not allowed to say on the one hand that we fully grasp that police use of force needs to be addressed—but that we find it deeply offensive and disrespectful that the manner of expressing that belief occurs during our National Anthem: an act that dishonors the sacred flag under which over one million brave American men and women of all races, ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds have fought and died for our country.

We are shouted down as racist simply for pointing out that the appropriate, legal manner by which to make lasting social change in this country is by voting, organizing, marching, striking and boycotting, and not by a brick through the car window or a torch through the front door of a small business. We aren’t allowed to point out that while most of the protestors are, as am I, sincerely aggrieved by the death of George Floyd—many are not and simply hate America and are using his death as a pretext to justify the violence, harm and damage they seek to do regardless. We are expected to swallow that we are “white supremacists” in a nation of “systemic racism” but we are never allowed to point out our great personal and national virtues—and the fact that America twice gave overwhelming electoral college victories to President Obama.

According to unelected federal judges, we are no longer allowed to believe that God created only two human genders, male and female. However, we don’t believe that transgenderism and “gender fluidity” should be deemed a special legal status. We are not allowed to suggest there is something transparently inconsistent about shutting down churches and small businesses during the virus—while liquor stores, abortion clinics and big box stores continue commerce uninterrupted. We are expected to believe that the virus doesn’t spread as easily during massive protests, rioting and looting—all of which violate CDC’s 6 feet social-distancing requirements—but most certainly will at a Trump rally. We are expected to overlook that while liberal elites (including athletes and celebrities) despise gun ownership and secure borders, they themselves live under armed protection and in exclusive, gated communities. Or, that we are expected to follow our laws while across the country law enforcement is broadly condemned, pulled back and defunded while criminals run free. That while Pres. Trump was harshly criticized for standing in front of the historic Church of the Presidents in Lafayette Square holding a Bible, no real attention was given to the fact that “peaceful” protestors had set it on fire the night before, destroying a nursery that had recently been renovated in its basement. That the phony Russia “collusion” story and impeachment achieved nothing but wasting huge amounts of time and money; That our own federal government—DOJ and the FBI—grossly abused its own regulations and core due process guarantees in an attempt to overturn the election of a duly-elected president. (Not to mention the injustice inflicted on Gen. Michael Flynn); or, criticizing the President for designating a violent, far-left domestic terror organization a “domestic terror organization.”

There is a storm coming but it’s not the one the often-dishonest national media and radical Left envision. It’s the silent majority of millions of Americans who quietly but proudly hold on to their love of country, constitutional freedoms and faith in God— for which we are mocked when we kneel in prayer—while kneeling during the National Anthem is celebrated. As Americans, the large majority of us are kind, generous and peace-loving. However, we are not going to be silenced; neither are our values and freedoms going to be sacrificed on the altar of Political Correctness. Through the strength of our prayers and our vote we will be heard from soon.

The views and opinions expressed in the My Opinion article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Winn Parish Journal. Any content provided by the authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything.

NATCHITOCHES:
Rosa L. Baker
June 20, 2020
Arrangements TBA

On June 18, 2020, the Unheard Voices of Natchitoches released a video on the facebook social media site. The Video appears to show Parish President John Richmond and Maglieaux’s Chef Brad Haigler assaulting a Black man on May 15, 2020

This Video, which appears to be a recording from a security camera, is presented here for your review.

This video contains explicit language and violence which may be offensive to some viewers and/or inappropriate for children. The content within this video is intended for mature audiences only.

The following video is a clip of just the altercation footage.

Remember, This video contains explicit language and violence which may be offensive to some viewers and/or inappropriate for children. The content within this video is intended for mature audiences only.

In the following clip, Parish President John Richmond tried to explain to the victim that no one hit him!

On June 17th and 18th, Parish President John Richmond and Maglieaux’s Chef Bradley Haigler were charged and arrested by summons.

Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office
Name: Adrian Thomas Hebert Cormier
Date: 6-12-20
Age: 31
Gender: Male
Race: White
Charge: FAILURE TO APPEAR, PROBATION VIOLATION

Name: Joshua Patrick Roton
Date: 6-15-20
Age: 31
Gender: Male
Race: White
Charge: FAILURE TO APPEAR

Name: Mary Morgan Ramirez
Date: 6-15-20
Age: 36
Gender:  Female
Race: White
Charge: FAILURE TO APPEAR

Name: Jessica Leann Malone
Date: 6-16-20
Age: 32
Gender: Female
Race: White
Charge: ENTERING/REMAINING PREMISES AFTER BEING FORBIDEN

Name: Brandee Brazil
Date: 6-16-20
Age: 46
Gender: Female
Race: Whtie
Charge: FAILURE TO APPEAR X4

Name: Michael Lance Gardner
Date: 6-16-20
Age: 37
Gender: White
Race: Male
Charge: FELONY CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, FELONY THEFT, TRESPASSING

Name: Terry Wayne Raybon
Date: 6-17-20
Age: 55
Gender: Male
Race: Black
Charge: POSSESSION OF SCHEDULE II DRUGS, POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA

Name: Justin T. Jewitt
Date: 6-18-2020
Age: 32
Gender: Male
Race: Black
Charge: FAILURE TO APPEAR X4

 

Louisiana Office of Public Health will be conducting mobile COVID-19 testing in Winnfield on Thursday, June 25, 2020 at Winnfield Primary School located at 401 South St. John St from 8 AM – 11 AM.

The vans will be manned by members of the Louisiana National Guard who will be performing registration, testing and coordination at all sites. They are working in collaboration with local Offices of Emergency Preparedness and the Office of Public Health.

Interested individuals must be 18 years of age or older. You do not need to have any COVID symptoms. Those with symptoms, contacts with known cases and high risk groups are all encouraged to be tested. High risk groups include those over 65, diabetics, those with hypertension, cancers, COPD, pregnant, immunocompromised or those living with anyone with
these conditions.

Leave your pets at home. Children will not be tested.

Present yourself to the testing site with a photo ID (for age and address verification only). You will not be turned away if you cannot present an ID.

No payment is required.

Positive results will be called to the client and all results (negative and positive) will be mailed to the client’s home address. Results can be shared with the client’s physician and employer as needed.

Meet Bernice! 

Bernice is a 6 months old, 5 pound, female Chihuahua/Dachshund mix.

She is a playful little lady that loves attention and to lay around with you. She has been doing great with the other dogs and cats in her foster home, and with house training.

Bernice is ready for pre-adoption now. She will be ready for pick up soon. She will be up to date on vaccinations, bordetella, dewormed, rabies, microchipped, spayed , Heartworm tested negative on heartworm/flea/tick preventative. Adoption fee is $250.00.

If you are interested in adopting Bernice contact the Heart of Louisiana Humane Society at hlhumanesociety@yahoo.com or 318-413-9077. Information you will need include: description of yourself and family if applicable, other animals in your home, if your animals are altered, children in the home, and vet information.

Put “Bernice” as the first word please so we can answer messages quickly.

The City of Winnfield water boil advisory has been lifted and is now safe to drink. The original advisory was issued on June 17, 2020.

NATCHITOCHES:
Edward Earl Tolar
October 30, 1929 – June 18, 2020
Service: Monday, June 22 at 10 am at the First Baptist Church of Natchitoches with a graveside service to follow in Oak Grove Cemetery in Saline

Rosa L. Baker
June 20, 2020
Arrangements TBA

SABINE:
Steven Wade Rodrigues
July 21, 1970 – June 17, 2020
The funeral service will be available live on the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Many, Louisiana Facebook page starting at 10:00 AM on Monday.